U.S. patent number 7,066,914 [Application Number 11/081,153] was granted by the patent office on 2006-06-27 for catheter having a tip with an elongated collar.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Bird Products Corporation. Invention is credited to Erik Andersen.
United States Patent |
7,066,914 |
Andersen |
June 27, 2006 |
Catheter having a tip with an elongated collar
Abstract
A catheter having a tube and a tip connected to one end of the
tube. The tip has a collar, an end member and lowered side walls
positioned between the collar and the end member. The lowered side
walls define an opening that is biased toward the end member.
Inventors: |
Andersen; Erik (Gurnee,
IL) |
Assignee: |
Bird Products Corporation
(Conshocken, PA)
|
Family
ID: |
24460920 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/081,153 |
Filed: |
March 16, 2005 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20050159712 A1 |
Jul 21, 2005 |
|
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
10315742 |
Dec 9, 2002 |
6878143 |
|
|
|
09614360 |
Jul 12, 2000 |
6511474 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
604/270; 604/264;
604/268; 604/910 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61J
15/00 (20130101); A61M 25/0068 (20130101); A61J
15/0026 (20130101); A61M 25/0069 (20130101); A61M
25/007 (20130101); A61M 2025/0073 (20130101); A61J
15/0007 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61M
31/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;604/264,268,270,516,910 |
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Jul 2004 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Denion; Thomas
Assistant Examiner: Chang; Ching
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Bell, Boyd & Lloyd, LLC
Parent Case Text
PRIORITY CLAIM
This application is a continuation of and claims priority to and
the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/315,742, filed
Dec. 9, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,878,143, the disclosure of which
is incorporated herein in its entirety, which is a continuation of
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/614,360, filed Jul. 12, 2000,
now U.S. Pat. No. 6,511,474.
Claims
The invention is claimed as follows:
1. A catheter comprising: a tube having a plurality of ends; and a
tip positionable within a bodily cavity, the tip having: (a) a
collar member that defines an opening, the collar member having:
(i) a length; (ii) a first end and a second end, the first end
connected to one of the ends of the tube; and (iii) a bottom wall,
a top wall and a plurality of side walls positioned between the
first and second ends, the side walls connecting the top wall to
the bottom wall; (b) an end member having: (i) a length that is
less than the length of the collar member; (ii) a first end and a
second end; and (iii) a bottom wall, a top wall and a plurality of
side walls positioned between said first and second ends, said side
walls connecting said top wall to the bottom wall of the end
member; and (c) an intermediate section positioned between the
collar member and end member, the intermediate section including
another bottom wall and a plurality of lowered side walls, said
another bottom wall and the lowered side walls being connected to
the collar member and the end member, a portion of the lowered side
walls and a portion of the top walls of both the collar member and
the end member defining another opening having a center, the center
of said opening positioned closer to the first end of the end
member than the second end of the collar member.
2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the second end of the end
member has a partially rounded shape.
3. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the opening positioned between
the second end of the collar member and the first end of the end
member has an elongated shape.
4. The catheter of claim 1, wherein a portion of the bottom wall of
the intermediate section has a sloped interior surface.
5. The catheter of claim 1, wherein a portion of the bottom wall of
the intermediate section has an arc-shaped interior surface.
6. The catheter of claim 5, wherein: (a) the opening of the first
end of the collar member has an inner diameter; and (b) said
arc-shaped interior surface is defined by a radius, the radius
having a magnitude within a range between and including five times
and ten times said inner diameter.
7. The catheter of claim 1, wherein: (a) the opening of the first
end of the collar member has an inner diameter; and (b) each of the
lowered side walls of the intermediate section has a height that is
selected from the group consisting of: (i) a height substantially
equal to one-half of said inner diameter; (ii) a height equal to
one-half of said inner diameter; and (iii) a height having a
magnitude within a range between and including one-half of said
inner diameter and said inner diameter.
8. The catheter of claim 1, wherein: (a) the tube has an inner
diameter; and (b) each of the lowered side walls of the
intermediate section has a height that is selected from the group
consisting of: (i) a height substantially equal to one-half of said
inner diameter; (ii) a height equal to one-half of said inner
diameter; and (iii) a height having a magnitude within a range
between and including one-half of said inner diameter and said
inner diameter.
9. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the second end of the end
member defines an opening sized to receive a wire.
10. A catheter comprising: a tube having a plurality of ends; and a
tip having: (a) a collar member that defines an opening, the collar
member having: (i) a length; (ii) a first end and a second end, the
first end connected to one of the ends of the tube; and (iii) a
bottom wall, a top wall and a plurality of side walls positioned
between the first and second ends, the side walls connecting the
top wall to the bottom wall; (b) an end member having: (i) a length
that is less than the length of the collar member; (ii) a first end
and a second end; and (iii) a bottom wall, a top wall and a
plurality of side walls positioned between said first and second
ends, said side walls connecting said top wall to the bottom wall
of the end member; and (c) an intermediate section positioned
between the collar member and the end member, the intermediate
section including another bottom wall and a plurality of lowered
side walls, said another bottom wall and the lowered side walls
being connected to the collar member and the end member, a portion
of the lowered side walls and a portion of the top walls of both
the collar and the end member defining another opening having a
center, the center of said opening being positioned closer to the
first end of the end member than the second end of the collar
member.
11. The catheter of claim 10, wherein the second end of the end
member has a partially rounded shape.
12. The catheter of claim 10, wherein the opening positioned within
the intermediate section has an elongated shape.
13. The catheter of claim 10, wherein a portion of the bottom wall
of the intermediate section has a sloped interior surface.
14. The catheter of claim 10, wherein a portion of the bottom wall
of the intermediate section has an arc-shaped interior surface.
15. The catheter of claim 14, wherein: (a) the opening of the first
end of the collar member has an inner diameter; and (b) said
arc-shaped interior surface is defined by a radius, the radius
having a magnitude within a range between and including five times
and ten times said inner diameter.
16. The catheter of claim 10, wherein: (a) the opening of the first
end of the collar member has an inner diameter; and (b) each of the
lowered side walls of the intermediate section has a height that is
selected from the group consisting of: (i) a height substantially
equal to one-half of said inner diameter; (ii) a height equal to
one-half of said inner diameter; and (iii) a height having a
magnitude within a range between and including one-half of said
inner diameter and said inner diameter.
17. The catheter of claim 10, wherein: (a) the tube has an inner
diameter; and (b) each of the lowered side walls of the
intermediate section has a height that is selected from the group
consisting of: (i) a height substantially equal to one-half of said
inner diameter; (ii) a height equal to one-half of said inner
diameter; and (iii) a height having a magnitude within a range
between and including one-half of said inner diameter and said
inner diameter.
18. The catheter of claim 10, wherein the second end of the end
member defines an opening sized to receive a wire.
19. A catheter comprising: a tube having a plurality of ends; and a
tip positionable within a bodily cavity, the tip having: (a) a
collar member that defines an opening, the collar member having:
(i) a length; (ii) a first end and a second end, the first end
connected to one of the ends of the tube; and (iii) a bottom wall,
a top wall and a plurality of side walls positioned between the
first and second ends, the side walls connecting the top wall to
the bottom wall; (b) an end member having: (i) a length that is
less than the length of the collar member; (ii) a first end and a
second end, the second end having a partially rounded shape; and
(iii) a bottom wall, a top wall and a plurality of side walls
positioned between said first and second ends, said side walls
connecting said top wall to the bottom wall of the end member; and
(c) an intermediate section positioned between the collar member
and end member, the intermediate section including another bottom
wall and a plurality of lowered side walls, said another bottom
wall and the lowered side walls being connected to the collar
member and the end member, a portion of the lowered side walls and
a portion of the top walls of both the collar member and the end
member defining another opening, said opening having a center and
an elongated shape, the center of said opening being positioned
closer to the first end of the end member than the second end of
the collar member.
20. The catheter of claim 19, wherein a portion of the bottom wall
of the intermediate section has an arc-shaped interior surface.
21. The catheter of claim 20, wherein: (a) the opening of the first
end of the collar member has an inner diameter; and (b) said
arc-shaped interior surface is defined by a radius, the radius
having a magnitude within a range between and including five times
and ten times said inner diameter.
22. The catheter of claim 19, wherein: (a) the opening of the first
end of the collar member has an inner diameter; and (b) each of the
lowered side walls of the intermediate section has a height that is
selected from the group consisting of: (i) a height substantially
equal to one-half of said inner diameter; (ii) a height equal to
one-half of said inner diameter; and (iii) a height having a
magnitude within a range between and including one-half of said
inner diameter and said inner diameter.
23. The catheter of claim 19, wherein: (a) the tube has a
designated inner diameter; and (b) each of the lowered side walls
of the intermediate section has a height that is selected from the
group consisting of: (i) a height substantially equal to one-half
of said inner diameter; (ii) a height equal to one-half of said
inner diameter; and (iii) a height having a magnitude within a
range between and including one-half of said inner diameter and
said inner diameter.
24. The catheter of claim 19, wherein the second end of the end
member defines an opening sized to receive a wire.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is related to the following commonly owned
co-pending patent applications: "Bolus for Non-Occluding High Flow
Enteral Feeding Tube," Ser. No. 10/315,742, (Referenced Above); and
"Bolus for Non-Occluding High Flow Enteral Feeding Tube," Ser. No.
10/321,337.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention generally relates to the irrigation,
administration and aspiration of fluids to and from body cavities
such as the gastrointestinal tract through a catheter and, in
particular, to an enteral feeding tube having a non-collapsible
bolus containing a fluid opening disposed at a distal end of the
tube.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Enteral nutrition is a form of hyperalimentation and metabolic
support in which nutrient formulas or medicaments are delivered
directly to the gastrointestinal tract. Fluid administration and
aspiration is accomplished through use of a nasogastrointestinal
tube generally referred to as an enteral feeding tube, as shown in
FIG. 1. Enteral feeding is frequently utilized where adequate
nutritional intake cannot be achieved through oral alimentation
because of poor appetite, chronic nausea, general apathy, sedation
or other symptoms or characteristics associated with serious
disease. By delivering appropriate nutrient fluids directly to the
gastrointestinal tract through an enteral feeding tube, nutritional
and metabolic support of the patient is achieved without risk of
sepsis or metabolic derangement, which may occur in intraveneous
hyperalimentation. Because of increasing emphasis on out-patient
care, enteral nutrition has been recognized as a desirable method
of hyperalimentation as it requires only oral intubation of the
feeding tube rather than manipulation of sterile cannulae or other
means of interconnection with surgically implanted subclavian
catheters as used in parenteral hyperalimentation.
Prior art feeding tubes, or catheters, typically include a rigid
tip, or bolus, that includes a fluid outlet that promotes fluid
flow. The fluid outlet is typically provided through a sidewall of
the bolus to guard against occlusion with mucous, gastrointestinal
debris or coagulated feeding material. The bolus is also more rigid
than the enteral tube so that the tube can be easily guided during
the intubation procedure. The enteral tube may also be provided
with a wire stylet within the tube to provide more rigidity to the
tube during intubation. The stylet can then be removed when the
tube is inserted to the desired position within the
gastrointestinal tract. Inadvertent exiting of the stylet during
intubation is reduced by positioning the fluid outlet within the
sidewall of the bolus.
In some situations, the enteral tube is introduced into the
gastrointestinal tract in an over-the-wire intubation procedure.
This procedure requires a bolus having an open ended tip. A wire
stylet, or guide wire, extends through the enteral tube and out the
open end of the bolus tip. The guide wire is used to guide the
enteral tube and bolus to a location that may be more difficult to
reach. The guide wire provides more control over the tube and bolus
for placement in these locations. For example, the guide wire may
be used to guide the bolus and enteral tube through the stomach and
into the jejunum or duodenum. The guide wire, which is relatively
stiff compared to the enteral tube, is inserted ahead of the bolus
to a desired position. The enteral tube is then slipped over the
wire and advanced to the desired position. When the enteral tube is
properly placed, the wire is removed.
One disadvantage in the prior art is that an over-the-wire
intubation procedure typically requires a bolus having a different
design than those used in other procedures. Prior art boluses for
use in an over-the-wire procedure are typically open-ended tubes
that do not incorporate a rounded tip. On the other hand, boluses
used in other types of intubation procedures typically have a
rounded or bullet-shaped tip that provides less resistance during
intubation. These shaped tips also reduce the risk of internal
injury. Thus, each bolus design facilitates the specific intubation
procedure. Another disadvantage of prior art boluses is their
susceptibility to bending and kinking at a collar portion of the
bolus that connects to a distal end of the enteral tube. Since the
enteral tube is made of a material that is typically more flexible
than the bolus, kinking readily occurs at the joint between the
materials of differing flexibility. These boluses are also
susceptible to bending at the fluid opening, where there is less
material to provide rigidity to the bolus. This bending and kinking
makes controlled intubation more difficult. Furthermore, the
bending and kinking of the collar portion may also cause problems
when using a wire stylet. The overall lengths of the stylet and
tube are subject to certain assembly tolerances. When the length of
the stylet is within the shorter dimension range and the length of
the tube is within the longer dimension range, the stylet may not
reach the collar portion of the bolus. If the bolus is bent near
the collar portion, the stylet may pierce the tube. On the other
hand, if the length of the stylet is within the longer dimension
range and the length of the tube is within the shorter dimension
range, the stylet may be positioned within the fluid opening. In
this situation, the stylet may pass through the fluid opening if
the bolus is bent or kinked.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a
bolus for an enteral feeding tube that provides delivery of fluid
to a body cavity or aspiration of a body cavity that does not
become occluded with mucous, gastrointestinal debris and coagulated
feeding material.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a bolus
for an enteral feeding tube that approximates the fluid flow rate
characteristics of an open-ended tube.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a bolus
for an enteral feeding tube that has an elongated collar portion
and a fluid outlet that is biased toward the distal end of the
bolus to allow for greater tolerances between the lengths of the
stylet and tube while preventing a shorter length stylet from
piercing the tube or a longer length stylet from passing through
the fluid outlet if the bolus is bent or kinked.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a single
bolus that can be used in more than one intubation procedure,
including an over-the-wire procedure, by providing a stylet passage
at the bolus tip while maintaining a generally contoured tip to
promote travel through tortuous anatomy.
These and other objects of the present invention will become
readily apparent after review of the specification and accompanying
drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a bolus for an enteral feeding tube, or
catheter, that is capable of being used in an over-the-wire
intubation procedure as well as other intubation procedures. The
bolus has a generally tubular body defining a sidewall, a proximal
end tube opening capable of being connected to a distal end of the
enteral feeding tube, and a generally rounded terminal end having a
flattened tip. The bolus includes a fluid opening within the
sidewall of the bolus between the proximal end opening and the
terminal end of the bolus. The fluid opening is biased toward the
terminal end of the bolus thereby defining an elongated collar
portion adjacent the proximal end tube opening of the bolus. The
terminal end of the bolus has an aperture therethrough that forms a
stylet passage in communication with the fluid opening. The stylet
passage is sized to allow a stylet to pass therethrough when the
tube is used in an over-the-wire intubation procedure.
The fluid opening includes a distal end and defines edge surfaces
of the side wall of the bolus that converge and curve upwardly at
the distal end of the opening near the terminal end of the bolus.
Furthermore, an interior surface of the sidewall opposite the fluid
opening is curved and slopes upwardly toward the distal end of the
fluid opening. The curved interior surface and the fluid opening
configuration allow for fluid flow that approximates the fluid flow
rate characteristics of an open-ended tube.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention are
described in, and will be apparent from, the following Detailed
Description of the Invention and the figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
FIG. 1 is an illustration depicting an intubation configuration for
an enteral feeding tube in a patient.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a bolus of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the bolus depicted in FIG. 2
taken along section line A--A.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the bolus depicted in FIG. 2
taken along section line A--A and depicting a range of curvatures
of an interior surface of the bolus opposite a fluid opening.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
While the present invention will be described fully hereinafter
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a particular
embodiment is shown, it is to be understood at the outset that
persons skilled in the art may modify the invention herein
described while still achieving the desired result of this
invention. Accordingly, the description which follows is to be
understood as a broad informative disclosure directed to persons
skilled in the appropriate arts and not as limitations of the
present invention.
It should also be understood that while the description is made
herein with reference to an enteral feeding tube, this description
is by way of example only. The principles of the present invention
may be applied to all types of catheter tubes, including Foley
catheters, urethral catheters, and catheters for use in gastric,
esophageal, pharyngeal, nasal, intestinal, rectalcolonic,
choledochal, arterial, venous, cardiac and endobronchial
applications.
Referring to FIGS. 1 3, the present invention is a bolus 10 adapted
to be connected to a distal end of an enteral feeding tube 11, as
shown in FIG. 1. The bolus 10 can also be connected to the end of a
catheter (not shown) for irrigation and aspiration of fluids within
various body cavities of a patient. The bolus 10 has a generally
tubular, or cylindrical, body 12 having a center axis 14. The body
12 includes a proximal end 18 and a distal, or terminal, end 20.
The terminal end 20 is generally rounded and has a flattened tip
configuration, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The rounded configuration
helps the bolus 10 to travel through tortuous anatomy, such as the
gastrointestinal tract. The body 12 also includes a fluid passage
22 disposed within the body 12. The fluid passage 22 defines a
bolus sidewall 24 and a proximal end tube opening 26. The tube
opening 26 is adapted to be connected to, and in fluid
communication with, a distal end of the enteral feeding tube 11, as
shown in FIG. 1.
The fluid passage 22 diverges from the center axis 14 of the body
12 to define a fluid opening 28 through the sidewall 24, as shown
in FIG. 3. The fluid opening 28 defines a proximal opening end 30,
a distal opening end 32 and two generally vertical sidewalls 34 and
36 of the sidewall 24. The sidewalls 34 and 36 have edge surfaces
38 and 40, respectively. The edge surfaces 38 and 40 converge and
curve upwardly at the distal end 32 of the opening 28. The edge
surfaces 38 and 40 also curve upwardly adjacent to the proximal
opening end 30, as shown in FIG. 3. An interior surface 42 of the
sidewall 24 opposite the fluid opening 28 is curved and slopes
upwardly toward the distal end 32 of the fluid opening 28. The
interior surface 42 and the curved edge surfaces 38 and 40 of the
fluid opening 28 allows for fluid flow that approximates the fluid
flow rate characteristics of an open-ended tube.
The fluid opening 28 is biased toward the distal end 20 of the body
12, thereby defining an elongated collar portion 44 near the
proximal end 18 of the body 12. The fluid opening also defines a
distal end portion 46. The distal end 20 of the body 12 has an
aperture 48 therethrough that forms a stylet passage 50 through the
distal end portion 46 in communication with the fluid opening 28,
as shown in FIG. 3. The stylet passage 50 is sized to allow a
stylet (not shown) to pass therethrough when the tube is used in an
over-the-wire intubation procedure. In a preferred embodiment, the
stylet passage 50 has a diameter that is relatively smaller than a
diameter of the fluid passage 28. Thus, the distal end portion 46
has a thicker material configuration than that of the sidewall 24
of the collar portion 44 of the body 12. The thick material
provides rigidity to the distal end 20 of the body 12 and helps the
bolus to travel through the gastrointestinal tract during the
intubation procedure.
The overall lengths of a wire stylet (not shown) and tube (not
shown) are subject to certain assembly tolerances. The elongated
collar portion 44 and the forward-biased, or distal-biased, fluid
opening 28 effectively allow for increased tolerances between the
length of a wire stylet disposed within the enteral tube of an
enteral tube/stylet assembly. The longer collar portion 44 creates
a larger dimensional range in which a distal end of the wire stylet
may be positioned while not falling short of the collar portion 44
or extending past the collar portion 44 and thereby residing within
the fluid passage 22 at the fluid opening 28. The elongated collar
portion 44 thereby prevents the stylet from piercing the tube
adjacent to the collar portion 44 if the bolus is bent or kinked.
The collar portion 44 also prevents the stylet from passing through
the fluid opening 28 and potentially causing injury to the patient
during intubation.
The curved interior surface 42 is optimized to increase fluid flow
through the fluid opening 28. FIG. 4 discloses a range of preferred
curvatures of the curved interior surface 42. The curvature of the
interior surface 36 is essentially a function of the inner diameter
of the fluid passage 22 as characterized by a particular French
size. The French size scale is most commonly used to describe the
size of medical tubing such as enteral feeding tubing, urinary
drainage tubing and catheters. The French scale (hereinafter "Fr.")
is disclosed and compared against the American and English medical
tubing size scales in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences (6th Ed.
1980; Mack Publishing Co.) pp. 1906 1907. Generally, the enteral
feeding tubing employed in the present invention have French sizes
from five to ten Fr. and are generally from 15 to 42 inches in
length depending on whether the medical application is for
neonatal, juvenile or adult patients.
The upward curvature of the interior surface 42 cannot be too
severe otherwise obstruction of the fluid stream will result
causing fluid turbulence and decreasing fluid flow output. On the
other hand, the upward curvature of the interior surface 42 cannot
be too shallow so as to require an overly long bolus to accommodate
the more gradual incline.
FIG. 4 discloses curvatures for the interior surface 42 that
maximize fluid flow rates. The selected range of curvatures is
defined by arcs (a) circumscribed from radii (r) having lengths of
between and including five times and ten times an inner diameter of
the fluid passage 22 within the collar portion 44 and adjacent to
the fluid opening 28, as indicated by the letter D in FIG. 4. In a
preferred embodiment, the inner diameter D is equal to the inner
diameter of the tubing. FIG. 4 generally discloses one end of the
general range of preferred curvatures of the interior surface 42 in
which an arc a' is circumscribed from a radius r' having a length
equal to five times the inner diameter D. At the other end of the
range of preferred curvatures, an arc a'' is circumscribed from a
radius r'' having a length equal to ten times the inner diameter
D.
In specific embodiments of the present invention, a six French
enteral feeding tube having an inner diameter of about 0.055 inches
requires the radius r defining the curvature of the interior
surface 42 to have a length of about 0.489 inches or 8.890 times
the inner diameter D. In an embodiment comprised of eight French
enteral feeding tubing having an inner diameter of about 0.078
inches, the upward curvature of the interior surface 42 is defined
by an arc circumscribed from a radius r having a length of 0.525
inches or 6.730 times the inner diameter D. In another specific
embodiment of the present invention utilizing ten French enteral
tubing having an inner diameter of 0.100 inches, the interior
surface 42 was defined from an arc circumscribed from a radius
having a length of 0.525 inches or 5.25 times the inner diameter
D.
Another important feature of the present invention is the selective
recessing or lowering of the height of the generally vertical side
walls 34 and 36 defined by the fluid opening 28. A transverse
sectional height is defined as the distance from an outside surface
52 of the sidewall 24 of the bolus 10 directly opposite the fluid
opening to the edge surfaces 38 and 40. It has been found that the
transverse sectional height of the vertical side walls 34 and 36
may range from a minimum height equal to one-half the inner
diameter D. At a maximum, the transverse sectional height of the
vertical side walls 34 and 36 should be no greater than the sum of
the inner diameter D plus the thickness of the sidewall 24 of the
bolus 10. The transverse sectional height may also be calculated in
terms of the inner diameter of the tubing. In a preferred
embodiment, the inner diameter D is equal to the inner diameter of
the tubing. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the transverse sectional height of the vertical side
walls 34 and 36 is equal to about the inner diameter of the
tubing.
If the transverse sectional height of the vertical side walls 34
and 36 is less than one half the inner diameter of the tubing, then
bolus 10 has an increased tendency to kink or bend. On the other
hand, if the vertical side walls 34 and 36 have a transverse
sectional height greater than the sum of the inner diameter and
thickness of the sidewall 22, this results in a vertical side wall
height exceeding the outer configuration of bolus 10 thereby
creating difficulty in intubation. Thus, the vertical side walls 34
and 36 are dimensioned to minimize kinking, bending, and occlusion
of the fluid opening while maximizing fluid flow through the fluid
opening. The present invention provides a versatile bolus for an
enteral feeding tube, or catheter, that is capable of being used in
an over-the-wire intubation procedure in addition to other
intubation procedures. The bolus provides a stylet passage in
combination with a generally rounded distal end having a blunt tip.
The stylet passage allows the bolus to be used for an over-the-wire
intubation procedure and the blunt tip allows the bolus to be
inserted in an intubation procedure while maintaining minimal
resistance and minimizing occlusion of the fluid opening.
While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described,
numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing
from the spirit of the invention and the scope of protection is
only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.
It should be understood that various changes and modifications to
the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be
apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and
modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the present invention and without diminishing its intended
advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and
modifications be covered by the appended claims.
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